The United
Steelworkers (USW) announced after deadline on Friday that the union has
reached tentative agreements on new contracts with ArcelorMittal USA on
behalf of about 15,000 workers at 14 of the company’s U.S. locations.

Subject to a vote
by the membership of 13 local unions, the proposed four-year agreement would
expire on Sept. 1, 2022.

“Our committee’s
hard work and dedication have resulted in tentative agreements with
ArcelorMittal,” USW International President Leo Gerard said. “Our members’
unwavering solidarity throughout the bargaining process in the face of
management’s persistent concessionary demands has been rewarded with
contracts that recognize the pivotal role Steelworkers have played in the
company’s success.”

USW District 1
Director David McCall, who chairs the union’s negotiations with
ArcelorMittal, praised the leaders and members at all of the facilities for
standing together to demand fair agreements. “Through their hard work and
sacrifices to improve the productivity and efficiency of our facilities, USW
members earned the right to share in the company’s success,” he said. “We
have negotiated fair agreements that improve wages and benefits while
preserving retiree health care provisions and bolstering the protections
afforded by our contract language.”

USW District 7
Director Mike Millsap, who serves as secretary of the bargaining committee,
added that the unity of local union leaders and activists provided leverage
for the union throughout the bargaining process. “From our first meeting
with the company until our last, management challenged us every step of the
way,” Millsap said. “The vocal and visible unity of our membership gave our
committee the strength we needed to resist the company’s proposed cutbacks
and fight for the issues important to our members, retirees and their
families and communities.”

In the coming days,
the USW will schedule meetings to review the proposed new contracts with
members at each location and deliver summaries with mail-in ballots and
instructions for the ratification vote.